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Richard Lugar’s groundwork helped pass poverty bills

Although he left office almost four years ago, Indiana’s own Richard Lugar just had two great weeks on Capitol Hill. Thanks to his growing legacy, there will be less poverty in the world and the United States w

Richard Lugar’s groundwork helped pass poverty bills

In 2008, then-Sen. Richard Lugar introduced the Global Food Security Act, designed to eliminate poverty in some of the world’s poorest countries. While that bill and two others that the Indianapolis Republican championed did not pass before he left the Senate in 2012, other law­makers followed Lugar’s lead to deliver his legislation in the past month.(Photo: Robert Scheer/IndyStar)Buy Photo

Although he left office almost four years ago, Indiana’s own Richard Lugar just had two great weeks on Capitol Hill. Thanks to his growing legacy, there will be less poverty in the world and the United States will be stronger.

In 2008, Sen. Lugar introduced the Global Food Security Act, designed to create a food security strategy and promote economic development in some of the world’s poorest countries through agricultural investment.

In 2009, Lugar worked across the aisle with Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland to write and introduce anti-corruption legislation requiring transparency from oil, gas and mining companies. “Too often, oil money intended for a nation’s poor ends up lining the pockets of the rich or is squandered on showcase projects instead of productive investments,” Lugar said. This kind of corruption is bad for American business and counters our security interests. The Cardin-Lugar Amendment passed with the Wall Street Reform Act in 2010, but it was left to the Securities and Exchange Commission to put the law into action.

In 2012, with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Lugar introduced the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act. They believed that while poverty-focused aid is less than 1 percent of the federal budget, it should be spent in a way that taxpayers, monitoring organizations and intended beneficiaries can hold programs to account. More effective foreign aid fosters self-sufficient countries and thus better allies and trading partners.

Neither act had passed by the end of Lugar’s tenure in 2012. Additionally, the SEC had not put pen-to-paper on the transparency rule.

Time passed and new champions in Congress took up the mantle on the two bills. Meanwhile, the SEC fell years behind schedule on writing the rule. A coalition of organizations and thousands of individuals organized to rescue the stalled opportunities.

Fast-forward to 2016: On June 27, the SEC delivered the transparency rule Lugar envisioned.

On July 14 and 15, the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act and the Global Food Security Act passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Indiana’s entire congressional delegation backed the Transparency Act, and eight of our nine representatives voted for the Food Security Act. Many poor people around the world will benefit from the results.

The landslide votes don’t mean success was inevitable. Lugar’s proposals were common sense, budget-neutral and bipartisan. Yet, it still took years of work to navigate complex political waters, election after election. Many deserve credit for carrying the initiatives across the finish line.

The final outcome shows that pressure from constituents makes a difference and Congress is capable of coming together, even during a divisive election. Big legislative victories require persistence, fine-tuning and a bipartisan team.

Hoosiers can be proud of Lugar’s legacy in helping to craft and introduce these bills. American leadership in this arena should be supported because Indiana and the United States are better off in a world with less poverty. Regardless of the issue, Sen. Lugar’s most recent success reminds us that his thoughtful, long-term cooperation is a model for today.